The watch was sold at the Bruun Rasmussen auction house in Copenhagen and was won by Danish racing driver Michael Christensen at the famous 24 Hours of Daytona in 2017.
In a message to the press, the auctioneer explained the excitement that filled the auction room on Thursday evening when a unique replica Rolex Daytona watch was put up for auction. Sitting in the front row was the watch’s owner, Danish racing driver Michael Christensen. for Mr Christensen, the sale of the winning watch had a very special purpose.
Before the auction, he said.” This watch is very important in my heart because it was awarded after one of my biggest and proudest victories. At the same time, the situation in Ukraine is terrible and sad, and most of the children in Ukraine are growing up in a completely different environment than mine. If I can offer a little help so that they can look forward to a better life, I want to do so”.
After the sale, he reflected.” It’s been a long journey, and my nerves have been frayed a bit in the last few days. The decision to sell my imitation Rolex Daytona was both sad and satisfying.
“The sale made more and more sense to me during the process, given the charitable purpose and the commitment of Bruun Rasmussen. I’m relieved that the hammer went down well this evening for 500,000 DKK.”
Bruun Rasmussen was also very pleased with the end of the sale. “We are very pleased to have been able to sell such a rare watch for such a worthy cause – especially in these dark and cloudy European times,” said the head of its watch department.
Added.” We are grateful to Michael Christensen for choosing to sell his unique watch with us, as we will not see another watch like this at our auction. It has been an unforgettable experience.”
For 75 years, Bruun Rasmussen Auctions has been selling art, antiques, design, jewellery, watches and collectors’ items in the heart of Copenhagen.
Arne Bruun Rasmussen founded the auction house in 1948 at Bredgade 33, and the Bruun Rasmussen family owned the company until 2022.
Today, the firm is owned by the British auction house Bonhams – one of the world’s leading and oldest auction houses.